Man City begin Maine Road party

Manchester City began their year-long Maine Road leaving party in perfect style with a pulsating victory over Newcastle.

Former Magpies striker Darren Huckerby nodded home the winner eight minutes before the break but the final scoreline was scant reward for a thrilling performance from the home side which at times left the visitors fluttering around in bewilderment.

It also helped avenge Kevin Keegan’s loss to another former England manager Terry Venables on the opening day of the season, overturning Bobby Robson in the personal battle of the international old-boys.

Keegan has set his side the target of a top-six finish. On this evidence they would be well capable of achieving that aim, with just one glaring problem.

Huckerby is without doubt one of the speediest players in the Premiership. His pace gets him into positions other strikers struggle to reach. Unfortunately, once there, he completely loses his head.

His shots fly at all angles from all distances, but rarely do they find the net.

He did manage one success in the first half but a sole triumph from about eight attempts is not a ratio to be celebrated, although the delirious City fans weren’t complaining as their team took a deserved lead eight minutes before the break.

Shay Given did brilliantly to stop Niclas Jensen’s fizzing low shot to his left but when the rebound looped up, Jermaine Jenas only succeeded in prodding it back towards his own goal, Huckerby leaping to nod home from close range.

The goal came as some relief to the home faithful, who must have thought they were destined to see an enterprising and exciting performance come to nothing.

Skipper Ali Benarbia was an inspiration, threading a series of passes through a bewildered Newcastle defence, but all to no avail.

Given and Nikos Dabizas were forming a virtual two-man barricade. The Irish goalkeeper saved twice with his legs from Huckerby, while his Greek defensive colleague hooked another shot from the striker off his own line midway through the half.

Despite Huckerby’s profligacy, Marc-Vivien Foe was the biggest culprit in a blue shirt.

The Cameroon international ghosted into the six-yard box to get himself on the end of Jensen’s cross in an unmarked position when the teams remained deadlocked. Somehow though he could do no more than send a firm header flying high over the crossbar.

It would have been an injustice had Newcastle entered the interval on level terms, but they should have been, even though it took Peter Schmeichel 27 minutes to make his first meaningful save in a City shirt from Gary Speed’s long-range effort.

The great Dane’s next involvement was to prevent Lomana LuaLua’s low drive from flying into the corner. Schmeichel accomplished that task but saw the rebound roll straight into Dyer’s path. But, presented with an open goal, the England international tried to be too precise and unbelievably placed his shot wide.

Dyer enjoyed no better fortune immediately after the restart when Sylvain Distin’s wayward square ball sent the Newcastle man running at former Magpie Steve Howey.

Howey was rounded easily enough but with just Schmeichel to beat, Dyer scooped his shot over the top.

It was the last chance Newcastle were to have for a while, as City continued their encampment in opposition territory.

The visitors did succeed in limiting City’s chances to an acceptable level, although Given did well to save Anelka’s low shot.

Olivier Bernard and Distin were both booked as the frenzy turned into a heated exchange, but just as City looked to be winding down, Newcastle upped the pace.

Alan Shearer’s stinging drive was flicked wide off Howey and when the corner was cleared to Dyer, Schmeichel produced a stunning save from the first-time shot which quietened any dissenting voices at the former Red Devil’s arrival in the blue half of the city and ensured maximum points could be locked in the Maine Road vault.